Humanities Inhumanity
"A Manticore's claw…"
The wispy white haired man snatched the claw from Harry's hand. "Yes yes, I can work with this!" He murmured in amazed delight.
"Get going the both of you! Come back in at least exactly twenty four hours from now, I'll have your wand made by then." Ollivander rushed the two swordsmen up the stairs and out of the shop. "Be careful out there boys, it's dangerous- especially for you two." The cryptic words left lingering inside their heads as the open sign on the door was flipped to the closed side.
Harry looked up to the shadow being with a questioning expression. The shadow tilted his head slightly to the side and walked off, Harry trailing behind him. They continued walking until they reached a grungy looking offshoot of an alley leading away from Diagon Alley. Knockturn Alley, Shadow had heard this was a place where one could find themselves… darker items.
Shadow led the preteen down the dank alleyway, looking for a shop that stood out. The alley was almost completely empty, which Shadow presumed was due to it being midday out. There were abandoned stalls against walls and beside buildings. A few people, wreathed in dark cloaks, wandered the streets and some pilfered from the absent stalls.
Harry looked on in disgust as he passed by the buildings. This place was filthy, didn't anyone here know how to clean up? He took a small sniff and almost gagged as the vilest scent assaulted his nose. Shaking his head to rid himself of the smell, he almost ran into the shadow being who stopped abruptly.
His piercing gaze bore into a little shop between two bigger ones. A wooden multicolored mask without eyeholes had spikes jutting out from it. It was attached to the place, suspended over the door. The building itself was the same grey stained with dirt and grime as the rest of the buildings surrounding it. Shadow pried the door open, it was stuck with disuse, and eased his way inside, his charge following along.
The place was small. There was a bookshelf, a desk with items laid across it, and a counter with a warty faced witch snoozing in a chair behind it. The shadow entity glided across the rotting wooden floorboards and checked out the bookshelf. Several books caught his eye, and he snatched them up before slamming them on the counter. The witch woke up with a sharp yelp and fell off of her chair.
Grumbling, she made her way back up. "Ugh, now what can I do you for? Heh, get it? I'll do ya. Heck, I'll even make it free." She put on what she thought was a seductive face as she took a closer look at the man before her. "I'm not too fond of the young'uns, but I'll make an exception for you, handsome."
Shadow's face twitched in minor annoyance and he roughly shoved the leaning woman back into her seat, he would not allow her warts to touch him. "Don't touch me whore. Ring up these books, I'll give you your money, and we can part ways. Don't test me, skank."
Foul curses and swear words were hurled at the impassive entity as she rung the books up. Curious glances were sent towards him as she read the books he wanted. "Hidden Lands – A Record, the Myth of the Sword of Light, and Muggle Wars and the Magicks in play? What do you want these books for?" She asked him… well, demanded of him, with a few more curses added in for her pleasure.
"None of your business, woman." He tossed four galleons and seven sickles onto the counter before he made his way out of the shop, Harry gave the old woman a disgusted look before running off to catch up with his mentor.
Shawn Helprin followed after his father into the giant castle before them. It was a magnificent castle, Shawn thought. It was made of white marble that seemed as if it sparkled in the moonlight. Four thin towers cascaded shadows over the main part of the castle and Shawn stared in amazement that something made of stone could rise that high.
The ten year old boy sped up when his father harshly told him to move faster. He bowed his head in shame and fiddled with the brim of his plain olive pants. The relationship between father and son was a sad sight to see for the professor giving the tour around the Hogwarts grounds. As they continued the tour inside, the professor took a moment to examine the child. The boy was obviously malnourished, he was ten and yet he looked like an eight year old would. The olive colored pants he wore were a size too big, and the beige shirt he wore was barely any better, the sleeves were supposed to reach his mid-forearm yet they reached past his hands! Professor Filius Flitwick wasn't sure but he believed that the boy was wearing something that was restricting him, and when he caught sight of heavy black bands that dangled off of his wrist, his suspicions were only given further proof. Filius's thoughts were thrown aside as the Headmaster greeted the trio with a warm smile and a twinkle bright in his blue eyes.
"Good afternoon Filius" The Headmaster nodded to the half-goblin professor as he strode towards the trio. "Headmaster." Filius nodded in response as the wizened old man stopped in front of the professor and visitors.
"Headmaster, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Gary Helprin, and his son Shawn." The half-goblin wizard introduced the two with a respectful tone of voice while glowering slightly at the father.
"Ah yes, our new Defence professor. Albus Dumbledore, and might I be the second to welcome you to Hogwarts, as Filius no doubt already has." Dumbledore twirled a few strands of his long white beard before holding his hand out to Gary, who shook his hand.
Dumbledore leaned over slightly towards the child of the quartet. "Hello there child. Aren't you a little young for Hogwarts?" Shawn backed away from the elderly man and shuffled slightly behind the Charms Professor as he answered quietly. "My dad told me I'm capable enough of starting my first year here. He even says I'll be better than all of the first years." Shawn's face was bright red as he spoke with downcast eyes.
A faint frown crossed Dumbledore's face before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Wouldn't want to make his father uncertain as to whether he suspected anything. "You'd make a fine Gryffindor, my boy." Taking that as his leave, Albus turned around, his robes sweeping across the ground as he walked away from the dumbstruck father and son.
Finally! It was the day he would be making his trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry wouldn't admit it, but he was excited, just a tiny bit. He looked down at his new wand, it was a glorious piece of wood, completely different from anything he had seen before, even those other wands in Ollivanders' wand shop. It was 11 ½ inches and it was shaped like a cylinder that looked as if it had bits removed and smoothed over, and it was completely black. The most defining feature of the wand though, was the handle. A six inch sea blue marble claw which had leather melded into the marble resided at the base of the wand. The leather served to give the hand more friction when holding the wand.
Harry boarded the train alone, his mentor was already at Hogwarts, and proceeded to walk down the hall looking for an empty compartment. He walked past a few of them, one had a bushy haired girl talking to a black haired boy, and another held a red-head who was looking up and down the hallway in search of someone, there was another that held three boys looking into a cardboard box for some reason. The last compartment Harry looked into was empty. He sighed in a holy relief and threw his trunk underneath the small table attached to wall.
Moments after the dual-haired boy sat down a small knock sounded on the compartment door. Upon opening the door, a small boy who was a foot shorter than Harry looked up at his expressionless features.
"What do you want?" Harry asked as a scowl marred his face. It wasn't that he didn't like the kid, from first appearances, it was just that he wanted to have silence while the train brought all the students to Hogwarts.
"Um, would I be able to share this compartment with you?" The boy had his eyes downcast as he continued on. "Everywhere else is full." Harry gauged the boy carefully, scrutinizing every detail about him that he could before agreeing to his request.
"Yeah, sure. Don't make too much noise and we'll be fine." The boy followed Harry inside the compartment and sat on the opposite seat from him and began to twiddle his fingers as he gazed out the window at the rapidly passing scenery. Trees whipped by too fast for the swordsman to tell what kind they were.
The quiet boy was different than the rest of the other boys that he saw on the platform back at the train station. He was extremely withdrawn, never even glancing at the other person in the compartment, not that it offended Harry. The child had thick messy blonde locks which had lost its luster and fell to his shoulders, but his eyes were his most defining feature. They were light blue but as the colour got closer to the pupil, the darker it got, becoming almost black. Three dark spots surrounded his pupil in a triangle formation.
Harry pulled a book out of his trunk, Majora's Tales of the Other World: A Hyrule Story. The shadowy being had bought him the book after they picked up Harry's wand. The shadow had to go back to that weird shop with the mask sign to pick up something he especially ordered for his new class that he was going to be teaching, and while Harry was wandering around he found this book, and asked for the dark world being to get it for him. The Shadow had made a comment years ago about how the land he came from was a place called Hyrule, and Harry had wanted to learn about it ever since.
Harry was still on the first chapter and was reading about the Hylians, the human-like race of their world, except they had pointy ears like elves. The Hylians had a few goddesses that inhabited their world, which would explain his mentor's odd way of swearing. Din, the Goddess of Power, Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore, the Goddess of Courage. They were the three gods that created the world and that also created the mythical Triforce.
Harry began to read about the first recorded legend of the world, where a Demon Lord called Demise had risen up and was terrorizing the land-dwellers. A courageous young man by the name of Link had taken up sword and shield against the demon lord and had managed to fend him off while the Goddess Hylia evacuated the past Hylians and ripped the earth itself apart, forcing the Hylians and the Triforce into the sky, and created a cloud barrier preventing the Demon Lord from obtaining the mythical power. The Goddess then shed her Godly form and became the first Princess Zelda in history. It is said that from then on that every female born into the royal family had magical powers and was named Princess Zelda. It is unsure as to whether or not that each and every Zelda that was born held the reincarnated soul of the Goddess who offered her Godly form to one day use the same Triforce that she hid from Demise, as Godly beings could not touch the Triforce.
Harry peered over the top of his book at the boy in front of him. He was still staring out the window at the passing scenery. It was becoming dark out, Harry realized absently.
"What's your name?"
The boy looked up at Harry in surprise. He wasn't expecting the dual-haired boy to speak to him since he said not to make a sound. Besides, he had his nose stuck in a book ever since he entered the compartment.
"Shawn. Shawn Helprin." The ten year old muttered quietly. He kept his eyes firmly locked onto the floor and fiddled with the brim of his seat.
"Harry." The black-clad swordsman offered in response. "How old are you? You don't look like your eleven."
Shawn's eyes flickered up to Harry before falling again. "I'm ten."
Harry nodded as if he understood and offered his hand to the shy child. "It's nice to meet you Shawn."
The blonde cautiously shook hands with the strange boy in front of him. Who had multi-coloured hair? He thought. Shawn smiled slightly as he relaxed his tense hand into the pale preteen's hand.
Harry introduced the younger boy to a game of exploding snap, a game he picked up back in Diagon Alley. The food trolley came by and Harry bought a bunch of food for the both of them, from the looks of it Shawn needed it. Eventually it became pitch black out and a voice rang out through the train telling the students to put their robes on.
"It says we have to have them, not that we need to wear them." Harry had said when Shawn questioned why the older boy didn't put his robes on. Shawn shrugged and pulled his off, not liking how constricting they were.
The train pulled up into the Hogsmeade Station and all the students got off the train, Harry and Shawn being the only ones not wearing robes, earning them a few odd looks. As they followed the other students to who knows where, he heard a loud voice booming in front of them.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way! C'mon the lot of ya, over here." The first year students, including Harry and the ever so silent Shawn, walked towards the giant of a man calling them.
"All o' ya get a boat! No more 'n four ta a boat!" The duo walked over to one of the empty boats and were soon joined by the bushy haired girl he saw earlier and the boy she was with.
"All righ' off we go!" And with that command, the boats sailed off into the lake. As the giant of a man started talking about the lake they were on, the Black Lake, the bushy haired girl introduced herself.
"Hermione Granger, and this right here is Neville, Neville Longbottom." She stuck her hand out brashly, to which Harry took and shook. "Harry, and that shy person over there is Shawn." Shawn nervously shuffled around and looked down, while Neville just blushed and scratched the back of his head.
"Are you Harry Potter?" Hermione questioned as her eyes caught sight of the lightning bolt scar on his forehead that just refused to completely heal. No matter what, his wounds had healed despite any injury that has been dealt to him. He knew that wasn't normal, and that it was because he was closer to his magic than other people were, according to a lecture Shadow had given him.
"Why do you ask?" Harry's expressionless face quickly formed a scowl as her eyes lit up in delight. A large smile threatened to split her face as she stared at the boy in front of her in awe.
"Oh my goodness, I get to meet THE Harry Potter! In person!" Granger squealed excitedly and almost tipped the boat over with her enthusiasm. Neville attempted to calm the squealing girl down but barely managed to.
"Why am I so important? What do you know about me?" Harry demanded from the girl, venom coating his words. Hermione quickly lost her enthusiasm and quickly adopted a frightful expression.
"D-don't you know?"
"Know what!"
Shawn and Neville gazed in slight fear at the overwhelming presence that was Harry as he gritted his teeth in anger.
"That you defeated You-Know-Who when you were a child and became famous all across Great Britain as the Boy-Who-Lived." She stammered out as Harry slowly calmed down as the girl told him what she knew.
"No. I didn't know. I haven't lived in a town or city since I was seven years old. Nobody told me anything. If you know anything else that involves me tell me. Now." Harry told the girl as he sat back down and relaxed into the boat seat. "I'm sorry for getting frustrated, but I have no idea about anything in my past, and I want answers."
He was talking about why he was placed with the abusive Dursleys. He wanted to know who put him there, and if random people on the side of the street knew his name better than himself, of course he would demand answers. He wanted to know his past.
Shawn looked at the swordsman in slight fear along with the other two. He scared him witless, but he was kind to him on the train, and didn't bully him because he was younger and smaller than the other kids like a few of them did before he found Harry's compartment. Shawn slowly and carefully placed his hand on the white and black haired boys shoulder and gave him what he felt like was a reassuring smile.
The rest of the boat ride was spent in silence, until Hogwarts came into view. It was beautiful, a shimmering white castle made of marble stone that towered high into the sky. The children, minus Shawn who has seen it before, gasped in astonishment and amazement. The Helprin child just stood there awkwardly as the people around him seemed as if they just stilled, besides him and the giant of a man. The boats came to shore and the giant led the children up pass the gates and towards the front doors of the magnificent castle, pointing out things like the Herbology Greenhouses, the Forbidden Forest, and his hut.
Three loud booms sounded against the stone doors as the man banged his fist on it. Slowly it creaked open as an uptight elderly looking professor opened it. Professor McGonagall eyed the eleven year olds plus Shawn, before turning to speak to the man.
"It's nice to see you Hagrid. Is this all of the first years? The group seems rather small this year." She gave the newly named Hagrid a rare smile as he answered back.
"Tha's all o' em professor. I reckon you shoul' take em now, I have ta go feed Fang before he breaks out an' scares the students again." Hagrid bowed slightly to Minerva and walked towards his hut through the sea of students.
"Follow along." Professor McGonagall said to the students before turning on her heel. The students took a second to wonder what to do, before they followed the strict looking professor.
She led the students inside to the doors of the Great Hall. She abruptly stopped and faced the students.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."
Minerva McGonagall eyed the students once more before she opened the doors to the hall. There were four tables, each with their own banner raised above them, and a multitude of students at each table. Harry could only guess that they were the second to seventh years, watching to see which house would get which student.
Minerva led the students up the middle of the hall, towards a table raised above the rest. This was where the teachers sat. Right in front of the teachers' table was a wooden stool, with a dusty old had placed upon it. Harry observed the hat and was surprised when its brim opened and it sung a song.
Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Everyone clapped in respect to the hat as it mock bowed before once again falling limp on the stool.
"Now, when I call your name you will come up and place the Sorting Hat on your head, and when it calls out your house you shall take your seat there." McGonagall called out before she started reading names off of a scroll.
Hermione Granger went over to the Gryffindor house when she was called up and cheerfully walked over to the clapping house. She beamed in pride as a few of the students clapped her on the back.
Shawn was called over to the Ravenclaw house and shyly walked over there while the reserved house gave a polite applause.
Neville took a long time to get sorted, but he eventually was sorted into the Gryffindor house along with Hermione.
It was when Harry was called up that the entire Great Hall fell into a dead silence.
"Harry Potter!"
Aaaaaaaand that is it for chapter five! This is currently my longest chapter to date, and I hope you have enjoyed it greatly. So say hello to Shawn because he will play an important role in this story, but I'm not going to tell you how important he will be. You can guess that by yourself.
Oh and anyways, I have started up a YouTube channel, if any of you are interested here is the link to my intro video.
? v = M
Just add that onto he end of the and you'll get the video, dont forget to take away the spaces. I'd like to apologize in advance for my awkwardness. I'm pretty new with the whole recording thing and it will take a while for me to get used to it.
Well anyways. I wonder if any of you can guess what I'm going to do with the plot in the next few chapters. I gave a few hints I believe, well, some pretty big hints.
Well, I'm off now, have a good day everybody.
Rate & Review…. It makes me smile.
*edit* sorry, i went and fixed a few things in the story, they were pretty unnoticeable but they were bothering me